Facts & Info

Compilation of relevant information to provide an understanding as to why the Green Mountain Center is ruinous to Central Vermont’s working landscape.

An article from 2012 references that the privatization of a Visitor Center is an experiment and ifit succeeds would be the model for future VT rest areas. Also, in this article Mr. Sammis states he would “charge companies rent to display their goods” in the Product Showcase. Why do area artisans and farmers, those in support of this development, have the perception that he will be directing visitors to their wares or location? To gain support, the message conveniently changes.— sourced from Vermont Public Radio

A photo gallery of buildings designed by the architect, J. Graham Goldsmith, Architects, P.C., associated with the proposed Green Mountain Center. Once these buildings obliterate the Green Mountain view, no one will be able to distinguish Exit 4 from any other Anywhere USA Interstate exit.— sourced from concerned Randolph community member

There is a difference between soil versus dirt. Those individuals that only have a perspective of development view it as dirt. This short video explains beautifully.

Articles were published November 2002 in the Times Argus/Rutland Herald and The Herald of Randolph describing how the Town of Randolph was trying to purchase the land from Mr. Sammis by submitting for grants. The Town of Randolph had the support of then governor, Howard Dean.— sourced from Times Argus, “Randolph hopes to protect scenic land” and The Herald of Randolph “Randolph Wants To Buy Exit 4 View for $500,000“

Randolph IS home to the Morgan Horse with a storied history. So why is the museum in Middlebury? Do Randolph and surrounding community members realize that in 2005, the then museum in Shelburne was excited to locate to Randolph, specifically the Exit 4 area. “With the future of the National Museum of the Morgan Horse up in the air, Randolph resident Jesse “Sam” Sammis said this week he is considering donating land near Exit 4 to make Randolph the permanent home for the Museum. I’m very enthusiastic about the possibility that the Morgan Horse Museum could be located in Randolph,” Sammis said. “My plan for the 173 acres I own around Exit 4 would still leave a lot of open space. Ten acres for a Morgan Museum with farmstead would look really nice and offer great accessibility.” Why did Mr. Sammis not go through with his generous offer? Why the change of his mind? Could it be the charitable donation was less than the profit from the potential land sale?
Here is the architecture concept that the then president of the National Museum of the Morgan Horse, Earl Dunlap of Southington, Ohio, envisioned after visiting Exit 4: “a visitor’s center with a farmstead design, a barn for Morgans, housing for staff, and a show ring”. Wouldn’t it have been lovely to see that vision versus the proposed 180 room hotel?— sourced from The Herald of Randolph “Morgan Museum“

A thought about the For Sale sign on Exit 4 land. Why is Mr. Sammis pursuing the permitting process and yet displays a For Sale sign on the property? When permits are issued, it becomes a better selling advantage as they are transferable to any potential buyer. One or multiple buyers could own the land, building whatever they see fit on their acres (purchase as little as 3 acres). With the outcome of the permit process, Mr. Sammis could still use part of the land for his proposed Product Showcase…or not. What is predicted to be built on this beautiful land is uncomfortably unclear. As of July 15th, Seven Day’s Mark Davis for his article on the Randolph crisis received these comments from Mr. Sammis: “Sammis said he has no plans to pull up stakes — the signs have been there for years and could help him lure prospective tenants to his project. But ultimately, he said, everything is for sale, and his land would be far more lucrative if it came with permits allowing for a major development. “In real estate,” he said, “everybody has a price. I would sell it at the right price.”— sourced from concerned Randolph community member

When the SOLD is put across this sign, what becomes of all that lovely green grass and trees?

Mr. Sammis, as founder and Chairman of the New England Land Company, Ltd., of Greenwich, CT developed and leased similar construction as proposed as part of the Green Mountain Center plans. The properties of The Center at Greenwich, just off I-95, include a 750,000 square foot mixed use complex including a 200,000 square foot corporate office building and the 400-room Hyatt Regency Greenwich Hotel.— sourced from New England Land Development, Ltd.

Currently, 29,478 square feet of the corporate office building, within the Center at Greenwich, are available for lease; 21,025 SF has been unoccupied since 2008 (84% occupied).— sourced from loopnet.com and cityfeet.com (commercial real estate)

Google Earth image of The Center at Greenwich

As of June 2015, there are 16 properties within downtown Randolph currently vacant which include properties owned by Mr. Sammis.
— sourced from research of a concerned Randolph business owner and community member

The former Brooks store owned by Mr.Sammis is one of the largest retail stores in downtown Randolph, VT and has been sitting vacant for the past 13 years, except for 18 months a few years ago, when Verizon had a store in about one third of it. Verizon was there rent free for 18 months, and moved out before they would have had to start paying rent.Mr. Sammis’ commercial/industrial property on Pleasant St. in the center of downtown Randolph, VT. The 7800 sq. ft. space that he owns on the ground floor is vacant and the entire 23,400 sq.ft. building (with 3 different condo owners) is for sale.

As of September 2015, there are 92 (increase of 16 homes since June) homes for sales within Randolph presented by real estate agents.
—sourced from zillow.com

Cluster of for sale residential properties in proximity to proposed Green Mountain Center Development

Mr. Sammis has the Three Stallion Inn and the Montague Golf Club for sale between $2.6 and $.4.6 million. Going somewhere, Mr. Sammis? Contradicts the statement that he wouldn’t “pull up stakes”. —sourced from Four Seasons Southeby’s International Realty

Outcome of proposed Green Mountain Center development contradicts with the description of Mr. Sammis’ other Randolph property.— sourced from Green Mountain Stock Farm web site

“There are few places which compare to Vermont for quality of life. And in Vermont, few locations compare with the Green Mountain Stock Farm for unspoiled beauty, open spaces and lack of crowding. Don’t miss Vermont at its best.” — quoted from Green Mountain Stock Farm web site

Rendering of the proposed VT Visitor’s Center and Product Showcase. Begs the question as to why the architecture needs to have two connected buildings?— sourced from VTdigger.com (2013)

An artist’s rendering of the proposed Vermont Visitor’s Center and Artists’ Showcase to be built at Exit 4 Randolph.

Mr. Sammis’ political contributions mostly to the Republican Party…..and Governor Shumlin. Yet he maintains, as quoted, “I don’t want you turning this around that I made a contribution so he would support my Exit 4 project.”— sourced from VTdigger.com (reprint from Valley News); view Shumlin Campaign Finances (scroll down to Top Contributors)

April 2014 in regards to the proposed rest area at Exit 4: “A bill [H-448] currently in the state senate would make it easier in some cases to build on those [agriculteral] soils by paying for protect land elsewhere, and some environmentalists suspect that Sammis and the [Shumlin] administration are trying to get the bill passed to make the Randolph development possible.” “The administration still thinks “the concept is good,” [Vermont Administration Sec. Jeb] Spaulding said. “We hope it will be successful, but (it won’t be) if it can’t make the permtting process.” “Sammis has spent the last year [prior to 2014] lobbying lawmakers and administration officials for changes to Act 250 that would allow him to develop all of the parcel.”— sourced from The Herald of Randolph and VPR